Louise Mensch reveals her battle with attention deficit disorder

Former Conservative MP Louise Mensch has revealed that being treated for a
type of attention deficit disorder has made her realise alcohol was ruining
her life.

Louise Mensch MP has resignedPhoto: Andrew Crowley

By Claire Carter

6:36AM BST 09 May 2013

Mrs Mensch, who now lives in America, has warned British women of the dangers of having a regular glass of wine when they get home from work, which she says impacts on mood and sleep patterns.

She said her diagnosis with a form of attention deficit disorder, which typically affects concentration, made her realise she was “self medicating” with wine for stress, and she has now almost completely given up alcohol.

The former Conservative MP, whose resignation led to Prime Minister David Cameron saying he wished she had remained to hold a more senior position in the party, is known for her outspoken views.

She previously demanded a full apology from the Labour party over what she claimed were sexist tweets; subjected Rupert Murdoch and his son to a grilling while serving on the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee inquiry into phone hacking; and was widely criticised when she refused to answer questions about cosmetic surgery, but eventually admitted to having had some “tightening”.

She has also appeared in GQ and admitted getting involved with hard drugs in her youth.

In her Unfashionista blog Mrs Mensch describes how her diagnosis with ADD (type 2 inattentive) led to her almost totally giving up alcohol.

ADD is a form of attention deficit disorder, characterised by problems concentrating and a short attention span.

The former MP for Corby and East Northamptonshire wrote: “Britain is a culture in love with alcohol. In fact not to drink makes you weird and a killjoy.

“But alcohol was ruining my quality of life, although I didn't understand this fully until I stopped wanting to drink it.”

Mrs Mensch said she was originally diagnosed in the UK but was told as she already suffered with anxiety she shouldn’t take any stimulants, but when she was given these in the US she said her focus improved.

Speaking from her home in New York, Mrs Mensch told the Daily Telegraph: “With ADD your whole focus is on what you are good at, which is why I loved politics but couldn’t keep my bedroom tidy.

“You are great at what you are good at, but incredibly scatter-brained when it comes to anything else. It’s the stereotype of the ‘absent minded professor’.

“It’s something a lot of creative people have.”

She said she used to have a glass of wine to calm herself after a stressful day.

She added: “It wasn’t that I made a conscious decision not to drink, I just didn’t want to anymore. I now have more energy, I’m wide awake.

“Living in America you look at British culture and you realise socialising is all around alcohol.”

Mrs Mensch resigned from her role to spend more time with her family and her husband Peter, New York based manager of bands Metallica and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, last year.

In the blog Mrs Mensch warns women against having a regular glass of wine. She said having a glass of wine is part of British culture, but that giving up alcohol could make a lot of British women healthier and happier.

Previously the mother-of-three was a well known chick-lit author, writing 13 novels as Louise Bagshawe, which she unashamedly described as “trashy” saying they gave readers a sense of escapism.

She has attracted a hoard of followers on social media, and at one stage even launched her own rival to Twitter, Menshn.